A Whole New Writing Industry

For some time now I have wanted to break into a new industry of writing. With the high transition rate of books being made into blockbuster films, I wondered if there could be an industry for this type of writing. If a book can be made into a movie, why can books not exist about the movies and the books on which they were based? Well, there are such books but you would be hard pressed to find them in bookstores and they are not nearly as popular as the original material, of course. I watched, just over the last ten years alone, book/movie franchises explode with popularity; The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Twilight Saga, The Hunger Games, and now Divergent, just to name a few. Now premium cable networks like HBO have picked up True Blood and Game of Thrones which have produced millions more fans than the books ever did and are cranking in money like no tomorrow. What if there was another industry to pick up a smaller percentage of viewers who want to dive deeper than just reading the book then seeing the movies?

For example, the Harry Potter series was one of the most highest grossing movie franchise in cinema history. The movies spanned well over a decade and launched endless midnight premieres, red carpet walks, book signings, and other publicity events. But for all the raving fans who stayed with series from its first release, there have always been avid readers who criticized the filmmakers’ decisions to omit certain elements and alter the translation from page to screen. In fact, there were so many unanswered questions that I had to explain to several people I know, who never read the books, crucial plot points that were never covered in the films. What if there were books to answer these questions? I’m thinking a book that does just this and is one book to read instead of a series of seven books so that if someone, who did not read the Harry Potter books but wanted to know what they missed, they would have a one-stop shop to fill in all the blanks. Critics may inquire, “Well, if they did not read the series, chances are they are not fans of reading and your book would be a moot point.” Perhaps, but I challenge that by saying maybe this type of book is just the thing that could inspire them to read. People only want to read about things that interest them, after all, and books written in this format could be just what it takes for them to pick one up.

Aside from the “_________ and Philosophy” books that never seemed to interest me, where else can you find a book that tackles deeper and more complex subjects found in both books and movies. The Hunger Games is a great example of a post-apocalyptic world where tyranny rules and people are just test subjects to the government. This futuristic fantasy has gained immense popularity since the release of these films and now the Divergent series is following that same trend. There are so many philosophical, theoretical, and political discussions that can stem from topics such as this and I, for one, would love to see more books touch on this subject. The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia are such series that ignite religious debates as well and the movies can sometimes treat these subjects differently because of the medium in which they are created. Books and movies are inherently different art forms and once that is understood, it is easier to comprehend the filmmakers’ decisions.

When discussing the good we must never forget the bad, or at least the more awkward conversations that go along with it. While most raved about the page to screen transition of The Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games, or were on the fence regarding Harry Potter, the general consensus for Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series was pretty poor. I fell in love with Cassie’s writing when she was still writing Harry Potter fan fiction (namely The Draco Trilogy) which no doubt was what got her noticed by publishers because her fan fiction was so popular it was pulled from the Internet! Her original series is quite enjoyable, though I lost interest after the trilogy turned into five books, and another one to be published this year. The movie, however, was awful for lack of a better term. There was an all-star cast and I love most of those featured. And as far as content goes, they covered pretty much all the important plot points in the story. So what made it flop? Was it too face-paced? Was it lack of character development? These are all topics relevant to the reading of anyone who was a fan of this series.

Whether you prefer to read or see the movies, I think everyone can benefit from the option of a books about book-to-movie industry. It would certainly expand the variety of the bookstores and perhaps earn more readers from people who previously were not interested. As with all my posts, this is just my opinion so feel free to share your own!

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Published by The Bibliophilia Co

I graduated Penn State University with a degree in Medieval Studies. In both reading and writing I enjoy historical biographies, particularly British Royalty or history pertaining to the British Isles. All writing advice, opinions, and criticism is very welcome.
I also run an Etsy shop dedicated to breathing new life in old books. I specialize in upcycled book crafts that make great gifts for my fellow book lovers. The Bibliophilia Co is where books are immortal.
For more book recommendations and reviews find me on Goodreads!
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